What wireless lav mic FREQUENCY

Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston

Veteran
Future proofing.... I currently have been using 3 sets of sennheisser ew 100 lav mic/receivers. (600Mhz range) Stiil work fine but about ready to get new equipment because of their age. (6-7 years?)

But with the upcoming "repurposing" of that frequency range does anyone have any idea what frequency range I should be looking at for a new lav mic/ receiver combo?
I don't want to buy something that may be totally worthless in 24 months or so.
 
I'm still not entirely sold on the digital wifi systems. There are three blocks, though, that Sennheiser mics offer in safe bands.

A1: 470-516MHz
A: 548-572MHz
G: 566-608MHz

I'd look at A1 and A first, but G should be fine.

You can also get $100 credit per 600MHz unit you trade in to move to a safe block. See HERE.
 
If the FCC does decide to auction any of those blocks, and at the speed the FCC moves, the (current G3 series) blocks should be legal for at least 4-5 years. By the time the 600MHz bandwidth auction was announced, and by the time it actually took place.. was quite 'awhile', after being postponed numerous times.
If you do decide to go the MHz route, take into consideration which of those blocks would be best for your area. I would visit the Sennheiser/FCC on-line frequency chart to seek vacant TV channels, or ones with a low modulation (-80dB Prx or better)... A quick perusal indicates, TV channels 21 and 22 are vacant (512 to 524Mhz) in Pensacola. Modulation for channels 24 and 26 is low as well.
BTW, I'm not so sure either about the newer GHz systems, as thousands of new wireless devices come online every day... and why aren't Zax, Lectro and the other top shelf manufacturers using them for their high end systems?
 
I think the only real future-proof system involves quantum entanglement.

But that is also in the future.
 
Noiz2 said:
I think the only real future-proof system involves quantum entanglement.
Click to expand...

So...

tin_cans_networking.jpg

Chris Johnston said:
Thanks guys, I'm thinking 3 of these might be where I need to go... (fingers crossed)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618735-REG/Sennheiser_EW_100_ENG_G3_A_Evolution_G3_100_Series.html
Click to expand...

Those are fine systems. The only note I'd have on those is the plug-on transmitter is dynamic-only. In other words, it doesn't supply phantom power. You'll need to purchase separately the SKP 300 G3 if you need phantom, in which case you might want to purchase the systems with body packs only.
 
I find it interesting that people will want to buy a radio mic system that will last till the day they die but are happy to change their mobile phones every year or so...... When you break it down a Sony or Senni system have a similar cost to an iPhone.
 
Last edited:
FWIW, I have a couple of the Senn plug-on transmitters which as Rick mentioned lack phantom power. I have a couple of dynamic interview mics which of course, work fine. Although it was one of my first mics, I have kept my AT-897 shotgun because it is battery powered, so no phantom required. There are a couple of other similarly powered shotguns on the market.

Grant
 
I don't foresee the need for phantom...(I have a hand held sennheiser in the 650 MHz range for 6- years and never used it yet) but I do have a battery power mic just in case something pops up. Oddly enough OzGizmo, I pick up my new Samsung 8 next Wed... (however I an upgrading from a Samsung s4 so...it's been a few years)
 
Alex H. said:
So...

View attachment 124787
Click to expand...

Warning WAY OT

The Quantum entangled pair thing is wold. They have actually gotten two entangled photons to mirror each other at 700 miles instantly, as in way faster than the speed of light. It is a LONG way off but if they ever figure out how to make it practical it's going to be wild.

OK back to boring 21st century technology...
 
OzGizmo said:
I find it interesting that people will want to buy a radio mic system that will last till the day they die but are happy to change their mobile phones every year or so...... When you break it down a Sony or Senni system have a similar cost to an iPhone.
Click to expand...

As someone who sells this equipment I've been saying this same thing for years. Of course, it changes when you get into the higher end systems. If the goal is to have a wireless system that lasts forever, then one should really be looking at the Lectro L-Series as their starting point, and then go up from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top